Elli Wohlgelernter: Adam Duritz of Counting Crows among the best rockers today

Bob Dylan: King of the Jewish rockers

Photo: AP

Paul Simon's original partner Art Garfunkel doesn't make the list

AP

Beastie Boys have been rap leaders since the genre's beginning

Reuters

Encyclopedia inscribes Jewish rockers

Ynetnews talks with the new 'Encyclopedia Judaica's' rock and roll expert

By Alan D. Abbey|Last update: 20.02.05 , 17:46

Elli Wohlgelernter is a Jerusalem-based journalist and the Rock and Roll Editor of the new edition of "The Encyclopedia Judaica," a massive tome chronicling Jews, and Jewish life throughout the ages. "EJ" was first published in 1971, and a thorough revision of the book is under way. Wohlgelernter's career includes stints at "The New York Post,"
KOMO-TV in
Seattle, Washington, WNEW-TV in New York, "The Jerusalem Post,"
and "The Forward."
He is an avid sports fan, a veteran of nine marathons, a onetime Hollywood actor, and a student of American Jewish gangsters. He is also compiling the encyclopedia’s profiles of athletes and gangsters.

2. Why? Is it because Dylan's lyrics are soaked in the Bible, he visited the Kotel or he danced at a Chabad telethon?

No. Because his name is Zimmerman….Seriously, because Dylan had the greatest effect one individual ever had not only on the specific American form of music called rock and roll, but on American culture. One can make such a case for Elvis
as well, but Elvis's influence did not stretch as far as Dylan's - or, of course, as long.

3. Is the Jewish impact on rock and roll palpable? Do any of the Jewish rockers bring something special to the microphone?

The Jewish impact is certainly palpable, in all aspects of the business, from singers and songwriters to producers and managers. Would the Beatles
have been the Beatles without Brian Epstein?
Sure. But was he not the most influential figure in their formative years? Without a doubt. And Sid Bernstein
brought them over. And deejays Murray the K
(Kaufman) and Cousin Brucie
(Morrow) played and pushed their records on air. Would Elvis have been Elvis without songwriters (Jerry) Leiber and (Mike) Stoller?
Of course. But he sang 24 of their songs, including, “Hound Dog,” and “Jailhouse Rock.” There simply isn't an area of rock and roll where Jews have not had a singular impact.

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